Is It Cheaper to Make Your Own Meat and Cheese Tray?

Making your own meat and cheese tray is usually cheaper than buying a pre-made one. You save money by controlling the ingredients and amounts.
Less expensive meats and cheeses can further reduce costs of a homemade tray.
To serve 30 people, plan on about 90 ounces of meat and 90 ounces of cheese as an appetizer. For an entrée, double those amounts.
For 10 people, have at least 2 ounces of each cheese per person.

A meat and cheese tray is also called a charcuterie or charcuterie board.
Charcuterie refers to dressed meats and meat dishes. A charcuterie board features meats, while a cheese board features various cheeses.
For best quality, prepare a meat tray the same day it’s served. Make thick stacks of meat and cheese cubes for uniformity.
With homemade trays, customize meats, cheeses, seasonings, and other tray items. Cheddar cheese pairs well with ham and chicken.

Is it cheaper to make your own party trays? In most cases, it is always cheaper to make your own than it is to buy a premade one from the store.
What I found is that you can save around 34-37% of the cost by making your fruit and vegetable trays. However, the cost savings on a cold cuts tray by making your own is not that much.
Whether it is cheaper for you to buy a veggie tray or make your own depends on a few factors like the ingredients, prices, tray size, and time spent.

Can you make a meat and cheese tray ahead of time? Yes, you can make a tray up to 24 hours in advance. Keep refrigerated until serving.
Main attractions like meat and cheese can be prepared ahead if adequately wrapped and refrigerated. Add other elements when serving for freshness.
Meat and veggies on skewers are best prepared no more than one day ahead. Marinated and sauced meats won’t keep their quality for 3-4 days.

When building your board, arrange meats, cheeses, and veggies attractively by shape, color, and size for visual appeal. Completing open spaces with fruit finishes decoration.
Homemade trays allow ingredient control for quality and budget. Choosing affordable ingredients doesn’t compromise taste.
With $30 or less, cured meats, cheeses, and snacks serve many.